EOF program sees extra million after state budget is passed
The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program has reversed cuts to the program proposed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) and has received an additional one million dollars in funding.
After the increase was approved, the funds were frozen and not made available until Sept. 20 due to Executive Order 209 signed by Christie, said Michelle Shostack, assistant dean and director of the School of Arts Sciences EOF program.
“He was basically holding hostage all of this funding included in the EOF money until he got healthcare savings,” said Patrick Nolan, executive director of the American Association of University Professors.
Christie tied funding for several types of social services and educational funding with his desire to cut spending on healthcare for public employees, Nolan said.
“He tied the two together and said if we don’t achieve savings in healthcare of $250 million, we’re not going to get any of this money even though the legislature put it in the budget,” Nolan said.
Christie proposed the cuts in February, but signed off on its restoration and expansion in June, Nolan said. The cycle of proposing cuts and restoring them makes it difficult for the people who run the EOF program to plan out how to serve the students, which was only made worse by Executive Order 209.
Nolan said government officials often propose cuts to the EOF when they begin looking at a new year's budget.
“Every time they propose a cut all of the public and even private universities have to plan based on what they know, (which) is that the governor has proposed less money.”
Every year for the past two to three years, Christie has been proposing cuts to the EOF program, he said. Each year the cuts have been restored by working with legislative leaders and showing the value of the program.
“Senator (Tom) Kean (R-N.J. 21st District) released a press release saying that he not only advocated for restoring the cuts but also expanding the program,” Nolan said. “We knew at that point we had bipartisan support.”
The advocacy of the students and friends of the EOF program and the New Jersey legislature made this increase possible, Shostack said.
“We’re hopeful that with the money we will be able to support more of our continuing students to take summer classes than we’ve been able to in past years,” Shostack said.
For the academic year, there will be opportunities for the EOF program to help EOF students who would like to present their research and might need money to assist with that or travel, Shostack said.
“I think these increase will be super beneficial to EOF,” said Jaime Chicas, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore. “One of the best parts about EOF is the counseling we get.”
The only other students who receive dedicated counseling like EOF are student athletes, who are given counseling to remain eligible to play, Nolan said. EOF students get dedicated counseling so they can achieve their degrees.
“EOF students are an integral part of the University,” Shostack said. “The money invested in EOF students is paid back to the state many times over. It’s a program that really just keeps cycling back to benefit the state.”
Despite this, the state has treated EOF like a 50-year pilot program. It’s one of the best programs the state’s ever done and expanding it allows more students to benefit from it, Nolan said.
The program should be the standard for all students and the centerpiece of addressing affordability and college completion, he said.
“EOF started in 1968 and it’s been, to me, one of the most successful programs the State of New Jersey has ever set up. EOF students tend to perform better than the general student body in terms of completion of their degrees,” Nolan said.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified State Sen. Tom Kean as a Democrat. This article has been edited to reflect that he is a Republican.
Manuel Silva-Paulus is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring in journalism and media studies. He is a contributing writer for The Daily Targum.
